Biological sciences

The possibility of phosphorylation-mediated control of Pin1-substrate interactions in cell cycle regulation can be seen in the Pin1 preference of an acidic residue N-terminal to the isomerized proline bond due to interaction of the acidic side chain with a basic cluster. Based on the research, a catalytic mechanism which includes general acid-base and covalent catalysis during peptide bond is seen in the study of crystalographic structure, pH titration and mutagenesis of an active site cysteine. Such analysis shows what influences eukaryotic cell cycle.

The role of pairing centers (PCs), cis-acting sites required for accurate segregation of homologous chromosomes during meiosis in C. elegans is investigated. It is found that the sites play dual roles that contribute to proper segregation where chromosomes lacking PCs fail to synapse and also lack a synapsis-independent stabilization activity.